Mayweather Versus McGregor By Mark Hollis

It appears the boxing world has reached across the aisle to the Ultimate Fighting Championship organization, referred as simply the UFC, and sanctioned a match between champions Floyd Mayweather and Colin McGregor. The interest being generated by this fight brings back memories of Muhammad Ali, then World Heavyweight Champion, and his exhibition against World Wrestling Heavyweight Champion Antonio Aoki in 1976. Unfortunately, the hype turned out to be more than the actual event. My point is, that when you put two highly braggadocios, but highly talented athletes against each other, some people are willing to pay big bucks to promote it.

Both of these contestants are charismatic personalities in their styles. Floyd “Money” Mayweather retired undefeated as champion in five different weight classes and has been known to bet heavily on his own fights. It’s believed that Mayweather has amassed as much as $500 million dollars on side bets alone. Colin McGregor, on the other hand, is equally well-known in UFC circles as a real threat to Floyd. He’s a get in your face kind of opponent that can trash talk with the best of them. He’s undefeated and will not hesitate to let you know it. My question is: Is the fight being promoted more about the event itself or the anticipated unbelievable amount of money it will generate?

The Mayweather versus McGregor match this month could possibly break every box office record of any fight promoted to date. It’s believed that Floyd Mayweather’s portion of the purse will be somewhere in the neighborhood of $300 million, while Colin McGregor will pocket approximately $175 million. So, while the fight pundits will spar back and forth on the possible outcome of the fight, my gut tells me it’s all about the cash. The fight itself is insignificant regardless of the outcome.

If Floyd loses, he still gets paid and will leave the ring with a blemish that will have an asterisk next to it. If McGregor loses, he is still the UFC champion in his weight class because the fight itself is not sanctioned by UFC. Let’s not lose sight that the fight between these two is no more than an exhibition in its makeup; very similar to the aforementioned Ali vs. Aoki and Ali vs. Lyle Alzado years ago. My plan is to grab some snacks, a beverage and then sit back and be entertained and not take it too serious. And while the money flow at the sports desk in Las Vegas will be heavy, my recommendation is never bet against “Money”.